Revolving furnace for volatilizing ores.



H. H. HUGHES. REVOLVING FURNACE FOR VOLATILIZING ORES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1909. 922,906. Patented May 25, 1909.

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REVOLVING FURNACE FOR VOLATILIZING O-RES.

APPLICATION FILED A PR. 5. 17909.

Patented May 25, 1909.

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HARRY H. HUG-HES, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

REVOLVING FURNACE FOR VOLATILIZIN G OBES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. HUGHEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Revolving Furnaces for Volatilizing Ores; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable-o-thersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved furnace for volatilizing zinc ore and has for its object to provide a furnace of this kind by means of which a greater quantity of ore can be smelted within a given time and with a less quantity of fuel than with any of the types of ore volatilizing furnaces now in use.

The construction provides for an automatic feed device whereby the ore mixture isffed in continuously and with the exclusion 0 air.

A further object of the invention is to provide a furnace whereby a perfect condensation of the zinc vapors or fumes may be effected thus reducing the formation of zinc white or blue powder to a minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the carbon monoxid gas may be lead to the combustion chamber of the furnace to assist in the heating of the retort.

The invention further aims to provide a construction whereby the residue may be readily separated by gravity from the molten zinc ore, and both discharged without admitting air to the retort chamber.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the ap ended claims. I

n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a furnace embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig- 1 and Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and therefore not drawn to scale, the numeral 1 indicates the fire brick and walls, and 2 the base of a Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 5, 1909. Serial No. 487,836.

Patented May 25, 1909.

antennas supporting structure upon which rest the bearing brackets, 37, supporting the revolving furnace holding the retort, 3. The retort 3, which is of tubular, and may be of gradually tapering form, is arranged with one end projecting through and beyond one of the end walls, and terminates at its opposite end in a tubular feed extension 4, which projects through the other end wall. Surrounding and entirely inclosing the retort 3- is a cylindrical steel casing. 5, provided with an inner lining 6 of fire brick, the retort 3 being held in the proper relation by radial braces 7 extending between the same.

A hollow tube 8 has its inner end coupled or connected to the rojecting end 9 of the retort 3 in any suita le or well known manner and its opposite end extending through a stuffing box, 10, arranged at the outer end of the upper hollowed-out portion, 11, of an upright frame, 12, the tube 8 providing a condensing chamber and the hollowed-out portion of the frame. 12 a continuation thereof. The tube 8 and retort'are rotated together by the following means. A motor 14 is arranged near the rear end wall, the shaft 15 of which is rovided at one end with a pinion 16, which wheel 17 keyed or otherwise fixed to the rear end of a shaft 18 extending through the front end wall 1, and through a bearing 19 arintermeshes with a large gear ranged beneath the center of the furnace and upon the supporting base 2. The gear '17 is also rovided on one face with a pinion 20 whicfi intermeshes with a second larger gear 21 keyed to the tube 8. The front or inner end of the shaft 18 is provided with a pinion 22 which intermeshes with a gear 23 onthe revolving furnace, it being understood that the pinions 20 and 22, respectively, and the gears 21 and 23, respectively,-are of corresponding dimensions in order that the furnace and theftube 8 will turn at exactly the same speed. The inner end of the tube 8 turns u on a pair of roller bearings 24 mounted at t e upper end of a supporting bracket 25 bolted to the rear end wall 1 of the supporting structure.

In feeding the ore to the retort, it is first placed in the main hopper 26 from which 1 screw 29 to feed the material into the heated portion or body of the retort. A screen supspace 31 between the retort and the steel casing '5 provides a combustion chamber which is heated by Oll or gas burners 32 which extend through the front wall 1 into said chain ber. The zinc vapor passes through the condensing chamber 13 which provides for the proper condensation of the same, and after it is condensed passes through the duct 33 in a molten state to the bed of a suitable truck 34 by means of which it may be transferred to any desired point.

which it is led into the combustion chamber, 31, preferably at a point between the burners 32 and is used as an auxiliary fuel in maintaining the desired heat in said chamber. The steel casing 5 turns or rotates upon two pa rs of bearing rollers 36 mounted upon the upper ends of bearing brackets 37.

It is to be particularly observed that by coupling the tube 8 to the retort in the manner disclosed, that a tube of' any size or length may be provided to provide a con.- densing'chamber of such len th that the zinc vapor will be condensed tot e proper degree before passing through the duct 33 on the ed of the truck. Theresidue of the-ore is deposited upon a slide 38 mounted in the frame 12, it being evident that by pulling this slide out by means of its handle 39 that the residue will fall upon a second similar slide 40 and by pullin out the latter after closing the former, will fa linto the space 41 from which it may be removed as desired without admitting air to the retort.

As heretofore stated, the condensing chamber may be made of the exact size and kept at the exact temperature for the perfect condensation of the zinc fumes, thus reducing to a minimum, the formation of blue powder. In this connection, it may be said that under the present practice, the formation of blue powder often amounts to as much as one-half the zinc originally discharged into a the retort and that this powder has to be re distilled only to be formed again and again.

To insure proper temperature for the condensers the auxiliary gas heaters 42 may be used, necessary. An auxiliary as heater, 43, may be also arranged beneath the duct 33 to keep the zinc in a molten state.

I further find that by the use of my con- .in the interior of the mass.

The annular v The carbon monoxid gas which is generated by reducing the zinc. ore passes into the pipe 35 by means of struction, every particle of the ore is brought intedirect contact with the heat and carbon at once without subjecting the ore to a lower temperature while the heat is being driven from the outside of the retort, as under present methods, into the center of the mass of ore, which requires considerable time and an excess of heat against the retort walls in order to obtain a sufficiently high temperature My construction is such as to bring the ore into direct contact with the heat at once and distillation is immediate and constant.

The base 2 of the furnace is held at the proper inclination to feed the ore through the retort and condenser at the desired rateof speed. This may be accomplished by raising or lowering the feed end of the furnace by lifting jacks, 44. I j

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understoodwithout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various. changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In a revolving furnace for volatilizing ore, a revolving retort, a revolving-condensing chamber coupled to the retort, and means for feeding the material into the retort automatically.

2. In a revolving furnace for volatilizing ore, a revolving retort,'a cylindrical casing having an inner lining of refractory and non-' heat conducting material surrounding and adapted to rotate with the retort, providing. an annular combustion chamber between the retort and casing, a condenser tube coupled to the retort, means for feeding the material into the retort, and means for feeding fuel to the combustion chamber.

3. In a furnace of the class described, a revolving retort, a cylindrical casing provided with an inner layer or lining of refractory and non-heat conducting material surrounding the retort and adapted to rotate therewith, leaving a combustion chamber between the retort and casing, means for feeding ore into the retort, a condensing chamber for the ore vapors, means for leading the carbon monoxid gas generated by volatilizing the ore to the combustion chamber, and means for feeding fuel to the combustion chamber.

4. In a furnace of the class described, a revolving retort provided with a tubular trunnion bearing having an interior thread forming a feed screw, a main be )per inclosing the outer end of the trunnion" earing of the retort, a secondary hopper in the main hop er, l at a point near said duct, and means for heatsaid secondary hopper having a tube lea ing into the trunnion bearing), a support in the main hopper beneath the ody 0 the secondary hopper, and means for heating the retort.

5. In a furnace of the class described, a retort, a secondary hopper in the main hop er,

said secondaryhoptper having a tube lea ing into the trunnion caring, a support in the main hopper beneath the body of the second hopper, means for heating'the-retort, and means'forcondensing the zinc vapors.

6. In a furnaceof theclass described, a revolving retort, a condenser tube coupled to oneend of the retort, an'upright framehaving an upper hollow portion communicating with the outer end of the condenser tube and forming a continuation thereof, said frame also having a duct for leading the condensed ore to a suitable receiver, a slide in said frame ing the retort.

7. In a furnace of the class described, a revolving retort, a condenser tube coupled to one end of the retort, an upright frame having an upper hollow portion communicating with the 'outer end of the condenser tube and forming a continuation thereof, said frame also having a duct for leading the condensed ore to a suitable receiver, a slide in said frame .at a point near said duct, means for heating the retort, and means for leading the carbon monoxid gas generated by volatilizing the ore to the combustion chamber, and means for excluding air from the chamber of the retort.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribingwit- DB SSGS.

HARRY H. HUGHES.

Witnesses;

E. EDMoNs'roN, J r., J. P. DUFFIE. 

